Hand tote device for garments on clothes hangers

ABSTRACT

A rigid rodlike element has one end shaped to provide an opening to receive the hook ends of clothes hangers. The remainder of the element is shaped to form a hand grip portion which is at right angles to and spaced from the opening. The opening for the hanger hooks may be constituted of a loop formed in the element, or such one end of the element may be flattened and have a slot formed therein.

United States-Patent Frederick B. Good 2429 Via Sonama, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. 90274 [2 1] App]. No. 808,489

[22] Filed Mar. 19, 1969 [45] Patented May 11, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] HAND TOTE DEVICE FOR GARMENTS ON CLOTllFS HANGERS 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl .Q. 224/45 [51] Int. Cl A47g 25/06 [50] Field of Search 294/ l (A); 224/49, 45, 45 (W), 4514, 42.45 (A), 42.46 (A), 29.3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,537,507 1 I951 Brant 224/42.45(A) 2,598,643 5/1952 Kaplan et a1 224/45X 2,717,110 9l'l955 Funk 224/42.45(A) 3,313,460 4/1967 Hooker 224/45(.l4) 3,362,599 1 l 968 Galazin 224/45 3,404,819 10/ 1968 Rolph 224/49 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner--Frank E. Werner Attorney-Perry E. Turner ABSTRACT: A rigid rodlike element has one end shaped to provide an opening to receive the hook ends of clothes hangers. The remainder of the element is shaped to form a hand grip portion which is at right angles to and spaced from the opening. The opening for the hanger hooks may be constituted of a loop formed in the element, or such one end of the element may be flattened and have a slot formed therein.

PatentedMayll, 1971 I 3,578,226

INVEN'IOR. fikzoze/c/r 6 6000 Arron/WV l HAND TOTE DEVICE FOR GARMENTS ON CLOTHES HANGERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION his shoulder without using his fingers to support the hangers and garments thereon, e.g., while walking through train stations and air terminals. 1 7

However, such devices as heretofore known are unduly complex structures, and are expensive to manufacture. One

approach (US. Patents 2, 598,643 and 2,728,503) is that ofa loop or U-shaped member having one leg to be engaged by the fingers, and a parallel leg having a plurality of openings therein (or serrations thereon) for receiving the hooks of clothes hangers. Another approach (US. Patent No. 3,3 I 3,460) is to provide two rings, one forming a handle portion and the other a hanger receiving portion, such rings being connected via a universal joint. The manufacture of such devices involves considerable tooling, requires an undesirable amount of time to produce and assemble and is expensive.

Further, such devices in use permit the hook ends of the hangers to be oriented to snag ones clothing or injure his hand, which readily occurs when one hurriedly grasps the device and maneuvers it with the hook ends directed against his shoulder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention embraces a single rigid element having one portion bent to provide a handle portion, and an end portion having therein an opening that lies in a plane perpendicular to the handle portion. Such device lends itself to high volume production at minimum expense, and does not orient hangers so they can snag ones clothing or injure his hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of the hanger tote device of my- DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a tote device 10 formed of a single rigid rodlike element. As shown, the element has a hand grip segment 12 at one side of hand access opening that is formed between one end 14 of the element and a portion 16 thereof intermediate its ends. The remaining portion of the element extends at right angles from the intermediate portion 16, and is formed intoa loop wherein the remaining end 18 of the element terminates adjacent the intermediate portion I6. This loop provides an opening 20 to receive the hooks of hangers on which garments are hung. Preferably the loop is sufficiently closed that hangers cannot slip over the end 18 and fall off the device.

FIG. 2 illustrates the device I0 in use. Shown in phantom are the hook portions 22 of hangers 24, and garments 26, 28, placed thereon. After the hooks are placed in the opening 20, one extends his fingers through the hand opening and wraps his fingers 32 around the grip portion 12. He then manipulates the device 10 to place the garments 26, 28, 30 over his shoulder 34. While walking with the element and garments thus arranged, the weights of the garments are effectively supported on his back and shoulder.

FIG. 3 illustrates another form of my invention. As shown,

the portion of the element which forms the hand grip I2 is bent so as to be triangular. Although this portion of the element is shaped differently than in FIG. 1, the hand grip l2 and the loop opening 20 are in the same right angle relationship.

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in which prime numbers indicate parts similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, that part of the element extending at right angles from the intermediate portion 16 is a flattened end 40 with an elongated opening 42 formed therein. The opening 42 is of sufficient size to receive the hook portions 22 of the coat hangers 24. The device 10' is utilized to carry garments 26, 28, 30, 32 in the same manner as the device 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The flattened end 40 preferably slants downwardly from the hand access opening, so that the opening 42 slants downwardly as does the opening 20 in the device of FIGS. 1 and 2. Such angling permits the device to be positioned more conveniently over one s shoulder. 7

It will be noted that my device is a rugged structure of utmost simplicity. Since the hanger supporting portion extends at right angles from the intermediate portion 16, my device insures that the hook portions of hangers placed in the opening therein are disposed substantially parallel to the grip portion 12 so that their ends do not dig into ones shoulder and snag his clothing. a

My invention embraces any desired material used for my tote device, e.g., plastic or metal. The particular cross section and size of the element formed in the manner illustrated and described may be varied as desired. For example, I have made devices as illustrated from aluminum bar stock of diameters from 0.250.50-in. Further, if desired, my construction may be made of a rigid rodlike element of varying cross section, e.g., a grip portion 12 of 0.50-in. diameter, with the remainder of the element of a diameter of 0.25-in.

In addition, it should be noted that the hand access opening may be formed as a substantially completed loop, as shown, or U-shaped having an elongated leg for the hand grip portion. In such case, one can slip his hand between the open end of the U-shaped portion to grasp the grip portion.

Iclaim:

I. In combination:

a rodlike element that is rigid throughout its length,

a first portion of said element between an intermediate portion and one end thereof being shaped in a closed loop defining an opening to receive the hook portions of one or more clothes hangers,

the remainder of said element between said intermediate portion and the other end thereof being shaped in a second closed loop substantially larger than said firstmentioned loop, said second loop defining a hand receiving opening and having a hand grip segment, said segment being at right angles to the plane of said hook receiving opening, said plane being substantially midway between the ends of said segment,

and said first portion, intermediate portion and hand grip segment being maintained in their relative positions solely by the rigidity of said element.

2. The combination of claim I, wherein said first and remaining portions of said element form respective loops in mutually perpendicular planes, both ends of said element terminating immediately adjacent said intermediate portion, whereby said loops are substantially closed.

3. In combination:

a rigid rod-like element,

a first portion of said element between an intermediate portion and one end thereof being shaped to define an opening to receive the hook portions of one or more clothes hangers,

wherein said first portion is flattened and has an elongated opening therein,

wherein said flattened first portion forms an angle to the plane of said loop,

the remainder of said element between said intermediate portion and the other end thereof being shaped to provide a hand grip segment, said segment being at right angles to the plane of said opening, said plane being substantially midway between the ends of said segment, and said segment being spaced from said intermediate portion to provide clearance to permit ones fingers to be inserted 

1. In combination: a rodlike element that is rigid throughout its length, a first portion of said element between an intermediate portion and one end thereof being shaped in a closed loop defining an opening to receive the hook portions of one or more clothes hangers, the remainder of said element between said intermediate portion and the other end thereof being shaped in a second closed loop substantially larger than said first-mentioned loop, said second loop defining a hand receiving opening and having a hand grip segment, said segment being at right angles to the plane of said hook receiving opening, said plane being substantially midway between the ends of said segment, and said first portion, intermediate portion and hand grip segment being maintained in their relative positions solely by the rigidity of said element.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first and remaiNing portions of said element form respective loops in mutually perpendicular planes, both ends of said element terminating immediately adjacent said intermediate portion, whereby said loops are substantially closed.
 3. In combination: a rigid rod-like element, a first portion of said element between an intermediate portion and one end thereof being shaped to define an opening to receive the hook portions of one or more clothes hangers, wherein said first portion is flattened and has an elongated opening therein, wherein said flattened first portion forms an angle to the plane of said loop, the remainder of said element between said intermediate portion and the other end thereof being shaped to provide a hand grip segment, said segment being at right angles to the plane of said opening, said plane being substantially midway between the ends of said segment, and said segment being spaced from said intermediate portion to provide clearance to permit one''s fingers to be inserted therebetween for gripping said segment, wherein said remaining portion of the element is formed as a loop with said other end thereof terminating adjacent said intermediate end. 